Fill valve



Nov. 6, 1962 G. T. KOEHLER FILL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1959 INVEN TOR.

GORDON T. KOEHLER BY WM M 7% ATTORNEYS Nov. 6, 1962 e. T. KOEHLER FILL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

GORDON T. KOEHLER ATTORNEYS United States This invention pertains to valves and more particularly to pilot-operated fill valves.

In many liquid tank fill valve installations, the control of more than one filling tube leading into the tank may be desirable, as for instance Where it is desired that a tank be fillable with equal facility from either one of two sides from nozzles applied to either one of two extended filling tubes. Such a requirement would occur, for instance, in railroad diesel engine fuel tanks where the filling thereof is accomplished through filling tubes extended from the tank to opposite sides of the engine to accommodate the railways fuel discharge equipment located on one side of the roadbed, and whichever way the engine was headed. It is desirable that each inlet tube be controlled by a separate pilot-operated in-line valve capable of stopping the liquid flow into the tank prior to overflow to prevent spillage and, at the same time, making it possible to obtain a substantially complete filling. Preferably, such valves should be located near the inlet end of the filling tubes and remotely controlled by pilot valves responsive to the liquid level within the tank. Means may also be provided in the valve for automatic opening upon the removal of the filling nozzle to prevent the spilling of entrapped liquid within the nozzle.

It is desirable that the controlling pilot valves be contained within a common housing and their floats be operated within a common float chamber so that the pilot valves each respond to the same liquid level. The pilot valve housing should conveniently be located on the outside of the tank for servicing as necessary and should be vertically adjustable for the selection of the operating point as may be dictated by the response time of the system, the rate of fill, and the completeness of the fill desired.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a fill valve arrangement characterized by some or all of the advantages and features outlined above and such other objects and advantages of the invention as will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a tank to which this invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through one of the shut-oft valves; FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the pilot valve housing;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the pilot valve housing showing the details of one of the float-operated pilot valves taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view looking down on the floats taken generally along line 5--5 of FIG; 4.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tank such as might be found on a railroad diesel engine is shown somewhat diagrammatically at and includes a left extended filling tube 11 and a right extended filling tube 12. The tubes 11 and 12 are integrally joined within the tank 10 and form at their junction an outlet opening 13 for the flow of liquid from either of said tubes 11 and 12 into the interior of the tank 10. A suitable overflow vent 14 is formed in the top of the tank 10.

Each of the tubes 11 and 12 is preferably terminated by an enlarged neck portion 15 defining a filter housing atent Within which a suitable liquid filter 16 may be insertedfor the filtration of liquid entering the tank through the filling tubes 11 and 12. controllable in-line valves 18 have outlets 19 adapted for threaded engagement with the portion 15 and include removable cap plugs 17 chained thereto and threaded into the valve inlets 20 when the valves 18 are not being used. A portion of a filling assembly is shown as being attached to fill the tank 10 through the right filling tube 12 and includes a quick disconnect nozzle 21 adapted for threaded engagement with the valve inlet 20, a valve 22 such as a ball valve attached to the nozzle 21, and a flexible filling hose 23 which may be connected to a suitable source of liquid under either pump or gravity head.

The maximum liquid level to which the tank 20 may be filled through either of the tubes 11 or 12 is controlled by a remote pilot valve assembly indicated generally at 25 and including a pilot valve housing 26 mounted external to the tank 10. The assembly 25 includes adjustable mounting means for providing vertical adjustment of the housing 26 relative to the tank 10 in the form of a mounting bracket 27 fixed to the housing 26 and adjustably mounted on a slotted, relatively fixed support plate 28 by bolts 29.

The valves 18 are each remotely controllable through sensing outlets 21 which are respectively operably connected to a pair of sensing inlets 32 and 33 on the housing 26 by lines 34. The housing 26 is connected to the tank 19 by a conduit 35 for liquid flow from the tank 10 into the housing 26 upon the filling of the tank through one of the tubes 11 and 12.

Referring to the detail of the in-line valve 18 in FIG. 2, the inlet 20 is formed within a hollow inlet body 40, and includes internal threads 41 for the acceptance of the nozzle 21. The valve outlet 19 and the sensing outlet 31 are similarly formed within a hollow outlet body 43. The outlet 19 is externally threaded at 44 for engagement within the enlarged neck portion 15 of the fill tubes 11 and 12. The inlet and outlet bodies and 43 are respectively terminated in circumferential flanges 46 and 47. The flanges 46 and 47 are aligned in abutment with, andon opposite sides of, an annular spacer 48 and are secured in place by a plurality of machine screws 49 extended. through the flange 46 and the spacer 48, and which are threaded into the flange 47.

A plurality of passageways 50 are formed through the spacer 48 for the free flow of liquid from the inlet 20 to the outlet 19. The spacer 48 further includes a radially extended passageway 51 having an inner end opened into a central opening 52 formed within the spacer 48. The other end of the passageway 51 is upwardly angled for mating engagement with a short vertical drilled passageway 53 formed within the outlet body 43 for communication with the sensing outlet 31.

An internal body member 55 is mounted over the opening 52 on the outlet side of the spacer 48. The member 55 lies wholly within the outlet body 43 and defines with the interior of the body 43 a circumferential passageway 56 through which filling liquid may flow from the openings 50 to the outlet 19. The member 55 is held in place over the opening 52 against the spacer 48 by an annular diaphragm retaining ring 58 and a plurality of machine screws 59 extended through the ring 58 into the member 55.

A diaphragm assembly 60 is supported with the valve 18 for substantially vertical valve opening and closing movement and includes a flexible impervious diaphragm 61 having a peripheral portion supported against the spacer 48 over the opening 52 by the retaining ring 58. The assembly 60 includes a centrally disposed cylinder 62 which serves as a guide for the movement of the assembly A pair of identical pilot valve,

and as a support for the diaphragm 61. The cylinder 62 includes a bottom shoulder 63 which carries an annular rubber valve seal 64. The valve seal 64 is held against the shoulder 63 by a lower diaphragm back-up washer 65, an upper diaphragm back-up washer 66 and a retaining nut 67 screwed down upon the washer 66 on the cylinder 62. The diaphragm 61 has its inner portion retained between thewashers 65 and 66 for the support of the cylinder 62 thereon. V

The member 55 includes a generally cylindrical recess 70 formed therein providing an opening and a guide for the vertical movement of the diaphragm assembly 60. A control orifice 72 is formed within the upper end wall 73 of the cylinder 62 through which a controlled quantity of the filling liquid may flow into a chamber 74 behind the diaphragm 61. The chamber 74 is in communication with the passageway 51 and therefore is connected to the sensing outlet 31 through which this liquid flows to the pilot valve housing 26. An annular valve seat 76 is formed within the inlet body 40 and includes an annular raised rib 77 for sealing engagement with the rubber valve seal 64. Means are included within the valve 18 for opening the diaphragm assembly 60 upon the removal of the nozzle and includes a compression spring 78 interposed between the body 40 and the lower diaphragm back-up washer 65 for normally biasing the diaphragm assembly 60 into an open position.

The internal body member 55 includes a pressure surge relief valve 90 having an inlet opening 91 normally closed by a ball 92, and operable by liquid surge pressures within the chamber 74 to establish communication to the outlet 19 through a relief outlet opening 93. The ball 92 is nor-. mally held in flow stopping relation over the inlet opening 91 by a plunger 94 and a compression spring 95 interposed between the ball 92 and a sleeve 96. The sleeve 96 is threaded into the chamber 55 and includes a screw driver slot 97 for the adjustment of the compression of the spring 95 for the adjustment of the pressure relief operating point of the valve 90.

Referring to the details of the pilot valve housing 26 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the sensing inlets 32 and 33 are formed within a generally circular housing base 100. Also: formed within the base 100is an outlet 101 to which the conduit 35 is connected for communication with the, interior of the tank 10. A cylindrical. cover can 102 has a lower end secured to the base. 100 as by welding andextends above the base 100 to form a float chamber 103 responsive to the liquid level within the tank 10. The top of the can 102 is closed by a cover 104 having a dependent ring portion 105 received within the can 102 and forming a seal with the inner surface by means of an interposed O-ring 106. A plurality of cover screws 107 secure the cover 104 to the can 102. A suitable vent 108' may be. formed within the cover 104 for the escape of entrapped air upon the filling of the float chamber 103 through the conduit 35.

' A valve block 110 is secured to the inner surface of the base 100. by a pair of machine screws 111. A pair of inlet passageways 112 are formed within the block 110 in juxta: position with the inlets 32, 33. The passageways 112 each have at their upper ends a pilot valve seat 113 within which is formed a bleed port 114. Although the dimension of the port 114 is small, it is somewhat larger than the orifice 72 within the diaphragm valve 18. A floatoperated toggle needle valve 115 is positioned withinthe valveseat 113, and in the upright position shown, is effective to close the port 114 and thereby prevent the flowofliquid from the passageway 112 into the float chamber 103. The needle valve 115 and the valve seat 113 together form a simple and reliable pilot valve for the control of one of the diaphragm valves 18 on one side of the tank and may be of the type shown in Koehler et al. Patent No. 2,843,145.

The housing 26 includes float means in the float cham-, her 103 which consist of a pair of floats 119 and 120, in-

dependently supported by rivets 121 on separate float levers 122, and each independently operable to close one of the needle valves upon the rise of liquid within the chamber 103 as the tank 10 is filled. Each float lever 122 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 124 upon upstanding arm portions. 125 of the valve block 110. As is best shown in FIG. 5., the float levers 122 are pivoted on the outside upon a pair of pivot screws 126 and on the inside upon a floating pivot pin 127. A threaded pivot arm 130 includes a lower end attached to the needle valve 115 by a pivot pin 131 and an upper end adjustably attached to the arm 130 by a pair of lock nuts 132 for movement about the pivot axis 124. When the tank 10 is less than full, the float chamber 130 drains through the outlet 101 and the floats 119 and 120 drop into a lowered position as shown by the broken outline in FIG. 4. This causes the pivot arm 130 to rotate about the axis 124 to move the needle valve 115 to the right thereby canting the valve 115 and opening the bleed port 114. When the float is in the filled position as shown, the needle valve 115 is centered over the port 114 eflectively closing it against fluid flow :from the inlets 32 and 33 into the chamber 103.

Means are included for the adjustment of the float lever by the positioning of a stop washer 133 on a threaded pin 134. The pin 134 is held upright between the floats 119 and 120 in a boss portion 135 of the block 110, and the washer 113 is adjustably positioned between a pair of lock nuts 136 and 137.

In the operation of this invention, the cap 17 is removed and the nozzle 21 is applied to the threads 41 of the inlet 20 of either of the valves 18. The ball valve 22 may then be opened to permit liquid flow from the hose 23, through the valve 18 and the filter 16, into the tank 10. During the filling operation, the liquid which flows through the orifice 72 normally is removed from the chamber 74 behind the diaphragm 61 through the sensing lines 34 and the normally open bleed port 114 in the housing 26. The liquid which in this manner flows through the open bleed port 114 is removed from accumulation within the float chamber 103 by draining into the tank 10 through the outlet conduit 35.

When the tank 10 is substantially filledin this manner to a point predetermined by the external vertical positioning of the housing 26 within the slotted plate 28, the liquid will enter the float chamber 103 from the tank 10 through the conduit 35 and will establish therein the level as in the tank. The air thus displaced from within the floatchamber 103 may escape through the vent 108 As the floats 119 and 1-20 rise, each of the bleed ports .114 will be closed by the straightening of the needle valves 115 within thevalve seats 113.

The closing of the ports 114 causes a build-up of pressure within the chamber 74 behind the diaphragm 61. Any unusually high surge of pressure which would tend to injure the valve 18 is bled off by the pressure relief valve 90; However, the pressure build-up will be at least as great as the pressure within the cylinder 62 and it will be uniformly distributed within the chamber 74 over the entire surface of the diaphragm 61. The closing force thus created is greater than the opposing force since the pressure below the diaphragm 61 is not uniformly distributed, it being greatest at the center where the inlet velocity is the lowest andfalls ofi toward the periphery of the diaphragm as the liquid velocity increases in flowing outwardly to the openings 50. Also, the closing action of the diaphragm assembly 60 is accumulative since the inlet velocity increases and the opening pressure decreases as the assembly 60 moves toward the seat 76. Once the seal 64 engages the rib 77, the valve is held firmly shut by the difierential area of the two sides of the diaphragm 61 exposed to the inlet pressure. The ball valve 22 may now be closed, and the nozzle 21 removed.

In the process of removing the nozzle 21, the pressure on the diaphragm is relieved by means of the relief valve 90, which comprises the ball 92 seated on the opening 91 and the spring 78 biases the assembly 60 into a normally opened position. The opening of the valve upon the removal of the nozzle 21 permits the small quantity of liquid entrapped within the nozzle to drain through the valve 18 into the tank rather than being spilled as would normally occur if the assembly 60 were biased into a closed position.

Often it is desirable to control the point at which the valves 18 will close to further filling, such as for the purpose of obtaining the greatest practicable fill of the tank without overflowing through the vent 14. However, it is diflicult to predict the exact shut-off point due to the effect of such factors as the size of the metering orifice 72, the rate of fill through the filling hose 23, and the filling pressure. Accordingly, the vertical adjustment of the housing 26 on the plate 28 provides for the control of the liquid operating level in the chamber 103 and affords means by which the efiects of these factors may be accounted for at the time of installation or otherwise. Also, the external placement of the housing 26 affords ready access to adjustment and cleaning as necessary, and the remote placement of the valves 18 adjacent the filling nozzles provides the shut-otf control where it is most effective.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fill valve arrangement for a liquid tank having separate externally extending filling tubes having inner ends opened thereinto providing for the controlled filling thereof from multiple positions comprising, separate pilot valve vontrollable in-line valves each having a sensing outlet for the remote control thereof and being mounted in one of said tubes in a flow stopping position, a pilot valve housing separate from said in-line valves including a single float chamber, means connecting said chamber for liquid flow from said tank upon the filling of said tank through one of said filling tubes, said housing having adjustable mounting means providing for vertical adjustment of said chamber relative to said tank for the control of the liquid operating level Within said chamber, float-operated pilot valves in said housing for the individual control of each of said in-line valves, float means in said float chamber operably connected to said pilot valves for the closure thereof upon the rise of liquid in said chamber as said tank is filled through one of said filling tubes, and means operably connecting each of said sensing outlets to said pilot valves for effecting the closure of the particular in-line valve through which the tank is being filled upon the closure of said pilot valves.

2. A fill valve arrangement for a liquid tank with a filling tube having one end opened thereinto and another end extended externally therefrom comprising, a pilot valve controllable in-line valve having a sensing outlet for the remote control thereof and being mounted remote from said tank on the extended end of said tube in a flow stopping position, a pilot valve housing separate from said in-line valve external to said tank and including a float chamber, means connecting said chamber to the interior of said tank for liquid flow from said tank into said chamber upon the filling of said tank through said tube, said housing having adjustable mounting means providing for vertical adjustment of said chamber relative to said tank for the control of the liquid operating level within said chamber, a float-operated pilot valve in said housing for the control of said in-line valve, a float in said float chamber operably connected to said pilot valve for the closure thereof upon the rise of liquid in said chamber as said tank is filled through said tube, and means operably connecting said sensing outlet to said pilot valve for effecting the closure of said in-line valve upon the closure of said pilot valve.

3. A fill valve for the controlled filling of a tank through an extirnal filling nozzle, comprise a valve body having means defining an outlet for connection to said tank and an inlet adapted for engagement by said filling nozzle, means in said body defining a valve seat at said inlet, a diaphragm assembly mounted within said body and movable between an open position spaced from said seat providing for liquid flow therethrough from said nozzle into said tank and movable into flow stopping relation with said seat, means in said body defining a pressure chamber behind said diaphragm assembly, means in said diaphragm assembly defining a bleed orifice pro viding for fluid flow therethrough to establish a differential pressure thereacross, pilot valve means having a connection to said body and opening into said pressure chamber and including float means responsive to the liquid level within said tank and operable to close in response to a predetermined said liquid level to cause pressure build up in said chamber resulting in said flow stopping movement of said diaphragm assembly, spring bias means in said body operable to move said diaphragm assembly to said open position upon the removal of said nozzle for effecting the admission into said tank, of any liquid remaining at said inlet, said bleed orifice providing for liquid flow from said pressure chamber into said valve inlet in response to said opening movement of said assembly by said spring means.

4. A fill valve for the controlled filling of a tank through an external filling nozzle, comprising a valve body having means defining an outlet for connection to said tank and an inlet adapted for engagement by said filling nozzle, means in said body defining a valve seat at said inlet, a diaphragm assembly mounted within said body and movable between an open position spaced from said seat providing for liquid flow therethrough from said nozzle into said tank and movable into flow stopping relation With said seat, means in said body defining a pressure chamber behind said diaphragm assembly, means in said diaphragm assembly defining a bleed orifice providing for fluid flow therethrough to establish a differential pressure thereacross, pilot valve means having a connection to said body and opening into said pressure chamber and including a float means responsive to the liquid level within said tank and operable to close in response to a predetermined said liquid level to cause pressure build up in said chamber resulting in said flow stop ping movement of said diaphragm assembly, and a coil spring in said body interposed between said assembly and said seat operable to move said diaphragm assembly to said open position upon the removal of said nozzle for effecting the admission into said tank of any liquid remaining at said inlet, said bleed orifice providing for lquid flow from said pressure chamber into said valve inlet in response to said opening movement of said assembly by said spring means.

5. A fill valve arrangement for the controlled filling of a tank through an external filling nozzle, comprising a valve body having means defining an outlet for connection to said tank and an inlet adapted for engagement by said filling nozzle, means in said body defining a valve seat at said inlet, a diaphragm assembly mounted within said body and movable between an open position spaced from said seat providing for liquid fiow therethrough from said nozzle into said tank and movable into flow stopping relation with said seat, means in said body dofining a pressure chamber behind said diaphragm assembly, means in said diaphragm assembly defining a bleed orifice providing for fluid flow therethrough to establish a differential pressure thereacross, a pilot valve housing separate from said valve body external to said tank having a connection to said body having a float chamber including float means in said float chamber, means connecting said chamber to said tank with said float means responsive to the liquid level within said tank, a pilot valve in said housing operated by said float means to close in response to a predetermined said liquid level, means connecting said pilot valve to said pressure chamber to cause pressure build up in said chamber resulting in said flow stopping movement of said diaphragm assembly, spring bias means in said body operable to 5 move said diaphragm assembly to said open position upon the removal of said nozzle for eflecting the admission into said tank of any liquid remaining at said inlet, said bleed orifice providing for liquid flow from said pressure chamber into said valve inlet in response to said open- 10 ing movement of said assembly by said spring means.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rutherfored, July- 26, 1921, Browne June 17, 1930, Peter Feb. 16, 1932 Matje Dec.v 19, 1944 Chace Oct. 31, 1950 Davies Nov. 7, 195,0 Sweeney Nov. 25, 1952 Davies et a1 Oct. 29, 1957 Koehler et a1. July 15, 1958 Cloud Mar. 17, 1959 McQueen May 26, 1959 Ring Mar. 29, 1960 Klamm et al. May 31, 1960 

